Healthy Christmas Recipes that are also good for your teeth

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It can be difficult to find healthy recipes that still feel Christmassy. Try some of these recipes by Marriott and Hand in Melbourne’s Inner West.

Christmas is a great time to spend time with your family – which usually means family dinners and lunches with lots of unhealthy food. While the holiday season really should be the time of no judgement, it’s still important that you take care of your body and your smile to some extent. You can still have that Christmas dinner or lunch with some of these great recipes.
A Christmas Tree Watermelon Forest is an easy and healthy Christmas treat. Watermelon is also crunchy which can help minimise plaque and assist with the flow of saliva which remineralises the teeth. All you need to do this easy recipe is have a knife and carefully cut the shapes into normal triangular watermelon slices. You can try a simple tree or carve the multiple layers of the tree for a more realistic Christmas tree effect.

Don’t waste anything!

Use the left over watermelon in a smoothie which is great for a breakfast snack.
No matter whether you have your salmon barbequed, baked or pan-fried you can add a cheese and almond crust. Simply put a sprinkling of tasty cheese on one side of the salmon and place almonds on top. Continue cooking for a further five minutes. You’ll get crispier results in the barbeque or oven.

Benefits of this meal:

Not only is salmon rich in Omega-3 oils, the almonds also have high calcium levels which is good for teeth and gums. Cheese also helps to neutralise plaque acid in the mouth which prevents cavities from affecting your teeth.

And now for dessert! Baked New York Cheesecake (improved version)

Of course you will want a treat at Christmas time and there’s no reason why you can’t simply choose a better version of your favourite treats to help minimise damage to your teeth and health.
Today we’ll be giving you a recipe for our personal favourite – baked New York cheesecake.

Main Mixture

2 cups Greek yoghurt

400 grams cream cheese

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon of lemon juice

5 teaspoons of vanilla extract

6 large eggs + 2 extra egg yolks

1 tablespoon of butter

1 cup coconut sugar

Crust

1 cup dates

1 cup raw walnuts or almonds

Coconut (if you wish)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 160°C

Process the crust ingredients in a food processor – press into a circular tin.

Cook for 60 minutes and test. If the mixture feels solid but creamy remove from oven.

Allow to cool then chill overnight

Serve with berries if desired

For this recipe we have chosen coconut sugar and have minimised the amount of lemon juice to reduce the amount of acid that comes in contact with the teeth. Yoghurt and other dairy products also contain vitamins, minerals, protein and carbohydrates which are essential nutrients that can help prevent tooth decay. Of course this recipe is not perfect for your teeth as it still contains sugar but it is Christmas time after all.
If you have any further questions about what food to eat for your dental health please post your question on our Facebook page.We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and will see you in the New Year for your dental check-up!